Seven family members found dead in car, ‘no one helped’ amid crores of debt

Haryana: A deeply disturbing incident has shaken the residents of Panchkula’s Sector 27of Haryana, where a family of seven, including three children, were found dead in a car in what police suspect to be a mass suicide driven by financial distress.

The head of the family, 42-year-old Praveen Mittal, was the only one found alive at the scene but collapsed shortly after and was declared dead at the hospital.

According to police sources, Mittal was discovered sitting outside the family’s car, visibly distraught. A local elderly man tried to comfort him, saying, “Aise nahi ghabrana chahiye. Achhe, bure din to sab par aate hain” (One should not panic like this. Everyone has good and bad days). However, Mittal soon lost consciousness. Inside the vehicle, the bodies of his wife Reena Mittal, their three children, and his elderly parents were found. All appeared to have died hours earlier.

Initial observations by neighbours suggested the family was merely resting after attending a religious event at Bageshwar Dham in Sector 5. Punit Rana, a resident of Sector 25, said he had spoken with Praveen, who told him they were sleeping in the car due to not finding hotel accommodation. Rana said he later returned to find all passengers unresponsive and showing signs of vomiting. When questioned, Mittal reportedly said, “We are in debt, and no one helped us, so we are dying.”

A suicide note believed to be written by Praveen Mittal was recovered from the scene. It claimed full responsibility for the act and absolved others of any blame. The note cited overwhelming financial burdens as the reason behind the tragedy.

Relatives of the Mittal family have since confirmed that they had been under severe financial pressure. Rakesh, the father of Reena Mittal, said the family had recently moved to Saketri and had debts totalling between ₹15 to ₹20 crore. Praveen, who ran a taxi service, was reportedly receiving threats from lenders. Another relative, Sandeep Aggarwal, revealed that the family had left behind several properties and a factory in Baddi when they moved away from Panchkula about nine years ago, a move triggered by mounting liabilities.

The incident has left the local community stunned, with many struggling to comprehend how a family that seemed so ordinary and composed could be pushed to such a drastic end. Local police are continuing to investigate the timeline of events and the contents of the suicide note, while post-mortem examinations are being conducted.

This case underscores the severe mental toll financial pressures can have on families and has prompted renewed conversations around debt-related suicides in India. Residents have expressed grief, shock, and a sense of helplessness, with many questioning whether more could have been done to support the family before it reached this point.